When crisis conditions occur with a pest on a crop and no currently recommended practices provide adequate control, the U.S. EPA could grant a non-registered pesticide an emergency exemption under Section 18 of FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act). In Arizona, a grower or commodity group or association could submit an application to the Department of Agriculture for review and then forwarded to the EPA. The lengthy application process requires supporting data from among the cooperating organization, manufacturer, state, and federal regulators.

Pesticide labels specifically state in very detailed terms how a product can be applied on a crop for a particular pest. A Special Local Need registration [SLN 24(c)] provides a mechanism for a producer to modify the use of a pesticide for a unique situation. The Department of Agriculture generally reviews and determines approval or denial for the SLN 24(c) registration for pesticides that have an established tolerance for the crop. The SLN 24(c) registration is granted to the manufacturer or a third party such as an individual or a commodity organization. An example for exercising the 24(c) process might be to add to the label an application method by sprinkler or drip irrigation as well as conventionally labelled broadcast applications. Another example may be to add to the label a change in timing of an application from postemergence to preplant or preemergence.

An Experimental Use Permit (EUP) is granted for the use of a nonregistered pesticide in a research/demonstration experimental test. Manufacturers generally are allowed to conduct a series of large scale experiments in commercial on-farm crop settings to obtain efficacy and safety data for the product. State or federal regulators issue the EUP and set a limit for the acreage that is allowed to be treated with the product. If a tolerance for the product is established, the crop could be allowed to be harvested and enter avenues of commercial trade. If there is no established tolerance, the EUP may dictate that the crop must be destroyed.

For more information on specific Labels, contact AZ Dept. of Agriculture.
602-542-3578

For more information on how to Request special registrations, contact Western Growers Association.
602-266-6149

Full Disclaimers

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture, The University of Arizona.

The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.

Because labels are subject to frequent change, always consult the label attached to the product before using any pesticide. The user must assume responsibility for proper application and for residues on crops as well as for damage or injury caused by pesticides, whether to crop, person or property.

Any products, services, or organizations that are mentioned, shown, or indirectly implied in this web document do not imply endorsement by The University of Arizona.